FEATURE | We Love Your Style
We Love Your Style
ERIN PATTON-MCFARREN is the first functioning studio space I’ve had in a long time and suits my need for a darkroom type environment. These spaces are our spaces, designed around our life. They feel like an extension of ourselves.
When you think of your home, what’s the feeling you hope your family and visitors have?
By Amber Bouthot | Photos by Ruth Yaro
Each month, we highlight someone whose style we admire. This month, it’s Erin Patton-McFarren, an artist and educator along with her husband and creative partner of 22 years. They wanted to raise their kids around their amazing grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, so they stayed in Fort Wayne and grew with their city, cheering for everything that made it feel more like home. From their friends buying the Brass Rail to MiddleWaves to art openings, the things they always longed for in other cities were coming to life in theirs. Their kids have flourished with the incredible arts programs in FWCS schools and community programs. From Wildcat to Robotics at Indiana Tech and the Fort Wayne Ballet along with jazz bands and dance programs in their schools. It’s easy to take these community resources for granted because they are so wonderfully available. They are often reminded by their friends who live in “cooler” places, how lucky they are to have their house, schools, and programs for the kids.
When we moved from our tiny 1930s house, we didn’t have much to fill our new space. Plants filled the open areas and we slowly added furniture from family, a few well calculated trips to IKEA, a vintage find or artwork to celebrate an anniversary, along with special pieces built by my talented father. We’ve always budgeted for kid activities and adventures over home décor, but we feel grateful to have what we have. Our greatest gift is to share our space with family and friends.
How would you describe your style? Art-School Bougie? Midcentury-Modest Budget? We are incredibly lucky to have a beautiful space with large windows and an open, flowing feel.
Tell us a little about each of the areas you chose to highlight.
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Our home is an oasis for our busy, creative family. Everything is functional and continually evolving with us. We have little zones where we spend our time. A music room with a family piano has become a place for video games and teenage friends. We use the former all-season room as our dining area because the windows and light are spectacular. Our family room is full of artwork by friends and some of our own. The fireplace is central to all things at home in the colder seasons. It heats our lower level and is often my reason for staying up too late in the long winter months. My studio in the basement | DECEMBER GLO 2021 |
I hope anyone who walks through our door feels welcome and loved; accepted as they are. My neighbor recently gave me the best compliment stepping through the door saying, “Ah! It smells great in here - like delicious food and love!” People often tell us our space feels like us. We are grateful that gatherings are returning post-vaccination. It’s fun to host our teenage kids and friends too—a last minute cast party, backyard Hamilton viewing, and a Marching Band “sectional” dinner that kept including other sections. First the saxes, then the trombones and some drum majors. Kids spilled into different areas of the house; the piano was played while someone walked around with the ukulele. We’re looking forward to birthday parties with our extended family and cousins, friend parties and gatherings of our people, all surrounded by good food and music.
What’s your favorite color? I can never answer this question, because I love colors for a variety of reasons, but I am most drawn to blue. My creative work in cyanotype produces a spectrum of blues that I find calming and refreshing. I tend to collect watery blues and aquas in different parts of our home to continue that calm and bright feel. It’s brought together with the greenery of my plants and bright pops of color. a
